Pelicans interim head coach James Borrego emphasized his team’s resilience following Monday night’s 130-125 loss to the New York Knicks at Smoothie King Center. “I’m proud of our guys. They battled. They competed… we competed tonight. That’s all you can do,” Borrego said, highlighting his squad’s effort despite falling short in the fourth quarter.
Borrego singled out Kevon Looney’s impact in his first game of the season. “He gave us a great boost with his physicality, IQ, and rebounding… nine boards. We cleaned up the board tonight, which is significant. Loon was a big part of that,” he noted.
The coach addressed the team’s late-game execution. “We made a call… we didn’t have a timeout. At that point, they got to go make plays. There’s some things down the stretch, execution-wise, we have to be better,” Borrego said, reflecting on the final possession.
Zion Williamson’s return to the starting lineup drew praise. “Z’s been fantastic… his energy on both ends of the floor, his rebounding, his defense. He looks fresh, hungry, and engaged,” Borrego said, underlining Williamson’s strong performance despite the loss.
Borrego acknowledged the absence of Jose Alvarado, who served a two-game suspension. “We always miss Jose… he brings energy, effort, and competitiveness. Pool and Fears handled themselves well tonight, and we had enough to get this done,” he said, giving credit to Jordan Poole and Jeremiah Fears for stepping up.
The Pelicans’ first-half scoring was a bright spot, according to Borrego. “That first half, 75 points, most the Knicks have given up in any half this year… moving the ball and sharing it was the catalyst. We trusted it, believed in it,” he explained, emphasizing the team’s ball movement and shot selection.
Borrego also noted the fans’ impact during a tense fourth quarter. “I love being in this arena. Our players are feeding off it… there were a lot of Knicks fans, but I heard more Pelican fans, and I love it. Keep showing up, keep bringing the energy,” he said.
Despite the setback, Borrego focused on building momentum. “Keep pounding at that door. Keep knocking. We’ll bust through it. I’m really proud of their effort,” he added, highlighting the Pelicans’ determination to improve down the stretch of the season.
New Orleans fell to 8-26, while the Knicks improved to 23-9. Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with a season-high 32 points, with Saddiq Bey and Jordan Poole each scoring 26, but New York’s balanced attack, including 28 points and 10 assists from Jalen Brunson, proved decisive.
The Pelicans will visit the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, with Borrego aiming to refine execution and maintain the team’s competitive spirit.
